Leon Turnbull Photography

Friday morning I took some time off work to go back to Dutch Creek in Coloma. I knew I had to work late Friday night, so I was able to take the morning off for a hike.

My goal: Get to the base of Johntown Creek Falls. The one waterfall in this fantastically stunning area that has eluded me thus far. Surrounded by steep cliffs and dangerous drop-offs, these beautiful waterfalls are difficult and deadly to get up close to. Would I be foiled again?

It is spring time in California. We have not had rain in a couple weeks now. The flowers are blooming. And yet, Dutch Creek was still flowing rather strongly. I was surprised to say the least. It had a bit less flow than when I was here last time, but still very nice. I was definitely worried it would be down to something not much more than a trickle. It is also very nice along the trail right now with the wildflowers blooming. I saw many sorts, and do not know the names of them all. But I do know poppies, and there is quite a beautiful display of them on Murphy Mountain. Definitely these would be worth seeing even with no waterfall. And the poison oak along the trail is most definitely in leaf now, and it is extremely abundant. Last time I was here, it was not in leaf and thus very difficult to see. Now I could see that it is just all over the place up here. It is not surprising that I picked up a rash last time I was here, because it is difficult to avoid even when you can see it.

My friend Rob recently was here and showed me pictures of Johntown Creek from the base. How did you get down there, I asked, incredulously. He told me that he crossed the creek above Johntown Creek Falls, and scrambled down a path on the other side. I was skeptical, knowing that the terrain is very steep on the other side. But he told me that “it wasn’t too bad”. Yeah right. So anyway, that was my plan, to follow in his steps. I crossed the creek without even having to get my feet wet (though I had brought my water shoes in case needed). I found a path on the other side where people had obviously gone before (and many more than just Rob), and it looked fairly easy at first. Then it started to get steeper as it descended down to Dutch Creek Falls. I proceeded very carefully now, not wanting to fall. It got steeper and steeper the lower I descended. Finally I came to Dutch Creek Falls, and found steep drop-offs all around. No way to proceed any further. Not too bad, yeah right. I know Rob is part mountain goat, but did he really descend this cliff? That would be just incredible. Well, no way was I going down this cliff. I took pictures of Dutch Creek Falls from here, then turned around to go back.

As I turned around, I noticed a rock outcrop over towards Johntown Creek Falls. I decided to go take a look see. As I got there and peered over the rock outcrop, I noticed a path down to the bottom! It was hidden behind this rock, but it was very descendable. Aha, so this is how Rob got to the bottom! I followed it down, and it was steep, but not too bad, just like Rob had said. At the bottom, you can go back over to Dutch Creek for a nice view there, or over to the base of Johntown Creek Falls. I did both, but first went over to Johntown Creek. It is so beautiful at the bottom of this waterfall, as it is tucked into a lovely little cove area. I measured this main drop of Johntown Creek to be 48 ft. high. The waterfall is bigger than this though, as it continues down in a large slide below this main drop, but it is difficult to see the bottom slide from here. This is such a spectacular location, even though I have the pictures I want now, I will definitely be returning here again someday.